BOADICEA Web Application (BWA) version 2.0 Beta software is now available for evaluation by existing users. This updated software includes several new features requested by users:

• Fast and flexible online pedigree building beyond 2^nd degree
• Scrollable pedigree table
• Previously saved pedigrees can be uploaded and edited/updated online
• Improved Web page design makes retrospective data entry easier
• Model Parameters module to adjust BRCA1/2 mutation frequencies and mutation search senstivities
• Computed results now available in downloadable text files
• More stringent input pedigree data checks

These updates will make the BWA more powerful and easier to use. In particular, online pedigree building will be faster, easier and less error prone, and users will be able to edit and extend previously saved pedigrees easily online. We are presently conducting a series of tests on the BWA version 2.0 Beta software. When these tests are complete, we will make a final BWA version 2.0 software release available for general use.

The latest BOADICEA model is described in a paper published recently in the British Journal of Cancer. This Web site provides access to BOADICEA Web Application version 1.0 (BWA 1.0). Users should cite this new paper when describing results generated with BWA 1.0:

Antoniou A.C., Cunningham A.P., Peto J., Evans D.G., Lalloo F., Narod S.A., Risch H.A., Eyfjord J.E., Hopper J.L., Southey M.C., Olsson H., Johannsson O., Borg A., Passini B., Radice P., Manoukian S., Eccles D.M., Tang N., Olah E., Anton-Culver H., Warner E., Lubinski J., Gronwald J., Gorski B., Tryggvadottir L., Syrjakoski K., Kallioniemi O-P., Eerola H., Nevanlinna H., Pharoah P.D.P. and Easton D.F., The BOADICEA model of genetic susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancers: updates and extensions, British Journal of Cancer, advance online publication 18 March 2008 (doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6604305).

To access this paper via PubMed click here

A validation study describing the performance of BOADICEA and other risk models has been published recently in the Journal of Medical Genetics:

Antoniou A., Hardy R., Walker L., Evans D.G., Shenton A., Eeles R., Shanley S., Pichert G., Izatt L., Rose S., Douglas F., Eccles D., Morrison P., Scott J., Zimmern R., Easton D. and Pharoah P., Predicting the likelihood of carrying a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation: validation of BOADICEA, BRCAPRO, IBIS, Myriad and the Manchester scoring system using data from UK genetics clinics, Journal of Medical Genetics, advance online publication 15 April 2008 (doi:10.1136/jmg.2007.056556).

To access this paper via PubMed click here

During last year's beta testing exercise, users provided important feedback on the design of the BOADICEA Web Application and made several suggestions for improvement. These recommendations have helped us to prioritise software development activities and the development of the next version of the program is now underway. Current development priorities include the following:

Several users requested improvements to the online pedigree building module. As a result, we are developing new software to enable users to build and update pedigrees of any size quickly and easily online. The new pedigree building module will include the following features:

• Function to edit/update details of individual family members
• Functions to add new family members and to delete existing ones
• Function to update twin status of siblings
• Scrollable pedigree data table to view large input data sets

These new functions will offer several advantages:

• Greater flexibility means that most small pedigrees will be built in minutes
• No need to export, edit and re-import pedigree data files to extend them
• Modifying pedigrees online will be simpler and less error prone
• New data entry scheme will include additional input pedigree data checks

The pedigree drawing module will be modified so that monozygotic twins are identified explicitly in pedigree drawings. Different symbols will be used to identify different types of cancer, and text annotations will be amended to conform more closely to Clinical Genetics Society recommendations.

Users also requested modifications to make retrospective entry of pedigree data sets easier. As a result, Family Member Web pages will have a consistent layout to simplify retrospective data entry. An additional function will enable users to download computed results in plain text format for import into spreadsheets and databases.

On the 15th November 2007, we released BOADICEA Web Application version 1.0 (BWA v1.0). This program enables users to compute BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carrier probabilities and age specific risks for breast and ovarian cancer on the basis of family history. BWA v1.0 is the first version of this program made available for general use, and is the product of a recent Beta testing exercise. Comments and suggestions for improvement made by users have been invaluable, and user feedback will continue to shape the development of our Web-based software in the future.

In March 2007, we released the BOADICEA Web Application (BWA) for evaluation by clinical geneticists and researchers (beta testing). The beta testing programme was very successful and we have received a great deal of important feedback. These comments have been crucial to the software development process, and we wish to extend our sincere thanks to all test participants for their time and effort. In particular, we would like to express our gratitude to Dr Lisa Walker (Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust) for her guidance during the earliest stages of the project. As of August 2007, more than 1000 pedigrees have been processed by beta test participants on the BOADICEA Web server.

As part of this process, test participants have provided a great deal of feedback, including reports of software defects, and important insights into software usability and data processing issues. As a result, we have made further modifications to the BWA in accordance with these recommendations, we will release an updated version of the program in the near future. We have also produced a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to clarify some issues raised during testing.